Global scrutiny of carbon markets
Tanzania is not alone in facing controversy over carbon trading. A 2023 investigation by The Guardian found that more than 90 per cent of rainforest carbon offsets sold by a leading certifier were effectively worthless. Soil carbon offsets, such as those in the Maasai rangelands, are even more uncertain.
“The idea that you can capture carbon in Maasai rangelands and sell it to polluters is based on flawed assumptions,” said Henry Kileo, an environmental researcher specialising in carbon storage. “In semi-arid climates like northern Tanzania, soil carbon levels are highly variable and difficult to measure accurately. There’s no guarantee these projects actually help fight climate change.”
Faced with growing opposition, the Maasai are organising. Across villages, elders gather to discuss their options. Young warriors, once trained to defend cattle from lions, are now preparing to defend their land through legal battles and advocacy.
The crisis has deep roots. In 2022, Maasai communities in Ngorongoro and Loliondo faced violent evictions under the guise of conservation. In response, Joseph Oleshangay, a Maasai lawyer and other activists formed MISA to defend pastoralist rights.
“MISA started as a response to the crisis in Ngorongoro and Loliondo,” said Oleshangay. “But as we dug deeper, we realised the same challenges were spreading across the Maasai region, driven by conservation policies and now carbon credit projects.”
Unmasking hidden dangers
A January 2024 study by MISA uncovered troubling details about carbon credit deals in Maasai villages. Nalichilichi, who led the research in Longido and Monduli districts, found widespread violations of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).
“Our research showed that most villagers didn’t understand what they were signing,” she said. “Village meetings were rare, and women were excluded from discussions.”
Some villages received small “engagement payments,” which Nalichilichi argues were used to coerce leaders into signing deals.
“They were framed as goodwill gestures, but in reality, they pressured communities into agreements without genuine consent.”
Threat to traditional pastoralism
For Maasai rights activist Saitoti Parmelo, the most alarming impact is the disruption of traditional pastoralism.
“The Maasai way of life depends on flexible grazing patterns that adapt to unpredictable weather,” he said. “Forcing us into a fixed system designed for carbon markets, not our survival, is a recipe for disaster.”
Legal experts are also questioning the fairness of carbon credit contracts.
“The contracts last for 30 years, but village land-use plans are reviewed every 10 years,” said Yonas Masiaya, a lawyer who has reviewed the agreements. “Locking communities into such long-term commitments undermines their ability to adapt.”
Another major concern is financial secrecy. “Nowhere in the contracts does it specify how much revenue villages will receive,” Masiaya added. “The actual buyers of these credits are unknown—only intermediary companies appear in the paperwork.”
Struggle for survival
For Maasai pastoralists like Timan Tina, the stakes could not be higher.
“Land is everything to us,” she said. “Without it, pastoralism is impossible.”
Tina fears carbon credit schemes will lead to land loss, similar to past conservation projects controlled by outsiders. “Our land is not just a place to graze livestock,” she explained. “It holds deep cultural and spiritual significance.”
As the battle over land rights continues, the Maasai remain determined to resist.
“We do not want carbon credit projects to become another way for outsiders to take our land and profit at our expense,” Tina declared.
“This is not just about land — it’s about our survival as a people.”
MISA and its allies are demanding transparency, genuine consultation and the protection of Maasai pastoralist rights. Whether their voices will be heard remains uncertain, but for the Maasai, the fight is far from over.
